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$800 For Lanvin Kids' Vest: The Market For Children's Luxe Is Back In Flux

This article is more than 9 years old.

If you've been following the tiny tots' list of best-dressers, you're familiar with the famous little tastemakers. Suri Cruise, Harper and Romeo Beckham and Prince George are just a few of the celebrity offspring in command of today's younger style scene.

Some must-have items you may want to consider for this year's stocking stuffers: a Burberry check and suede high top trainers for $225, or Moncler's chin-strapped hat to keep the warmth in for $105. Love accessories? Try Adelaide's diamond hair jaw clip for $100.

To shine a light on the growing children's luxury market is PetitePARADE, a bi-annual fashion event exclusively for kids from toddlers to teens. "The growth has been major in metropolitan areas, where parents are more embedded in global trends as well as the influence that the media play in our society,  says Gina Rizzo, a co-founder of the event.

The most recent showcase took place this past weekend in New York City. Much of the crowd was certainly young, if not notably jaunty and unruly. No sign of Anna Wintour, but guests -- on the runway and in front row — ranged from Sophia Pippen (daughter of Larsa and Scottie Pippen) to Harper Tillman (daughter of former NFL player Travares Tillman). Last year, supermodel and business mogul Heidi Klum showcased her first children's clothing line, Truly Scrumptious.

Despite the market's sharp decline in 2008 (falling from $10.3 in 2007 to $9.4 billion in revenues),  there's been a steady rebound in recent years. Children's retail accounted for $10.9 billion in revenues this year in the U.S. alone,  and is expected to do even better in 2015 . According to data from IBISWorld, an increase in disposable income should boost revenue at an average annual rate of 2.6 percent to $12.6 billion over the years leading up to 2019.

What's more surprising is how the market is affected by Americans' decision to wait longer to have children. " Older parents tend to have more discretionary income to spend on their kids ," says Will McKitterick, a retail analyst at IBISWorld.

The shift in demographics has made a larger market for children's clothes possible--and it's the big luxury brands who have the dominant hand. Much like the adult apparel market, parents are increasingly shopping for exclusivity and rely on brand names when purchasing.

"Just a few years ago, there were only a few well-known designers involved in children’s wear, like Ralph Lauren and Christian Dior ," says McKitterick. Recently, however, the expansion has grown faster than ever. The newest and biggest entrants include Gucci , Dolce & Gabanna and Oscar de la Renta.

Burberry still remains the top luxury seller in children’s clothing. The company reported $61.96 million in revenue for its children's product division -- around 3.0% of the company's total revenue -- for fiscal year 2014.

Parents, if you're taking notes: we'll be seeing more sophisticated and updated-classic looks versus embellished, over-the-top designs this coming season. It's a sign that the youthful cherubs of the world are maturing faster than the average wallet can take.  Among Chloé's latest collection for girls is a trench coat dress with detachable sleeves, which you can purchase for $433.52 on Children's Salon's website.  Alternate theories are more than welcome.

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